MDI Birds
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    Red-tailed Hawk / Buteo jamaicensis

    : Not recently confirmed as a breeder but single adults are seen throughout the year and nesting somewhere seems probable. birds may leave Dec-Mar in years with heavy snow.

    : to mid Sep-mid Nov with a peak late Sep-early Oct and from late Aug-late Nov. The Cadillac Mountain Hawkwatch is good place to look. Spring movements probably occurs late Mar-mid May but numbers are small and confusion with residents inevitable. Red-tails dislike crossing large bodies of water so are on sea islands.

    Miscellany: Red-tails were more common in the aftermath of the 1947 fire when the large open areas they prefer were plentiful. These lands now support extensive forests and are no longer attractive to Red-tails.

    Last Updated: June 5th, 2022

    Locations

    1. 1. Cadillac Mountain Hawkwatch 44.353147, -68.226166